Container for rolled webs of goods

ABSTRACT

A container, especially of cardboard, for receiving and storing rolled-up paper webs, drawings, and similar material which is made of a one-piece sheet that is folded into a tubular body of a polygonal cross section and has both of its ends provided with integral foldable closure flaps. The outer free longitudinal end edge of the thus formed body is provided with foldable tongues which extend through slots arranged along that folding line of the thus formed body which is adjacent to the outer free end edge of the thus folded tubular body. These tongues are located in correspondingly shaped recesses provided in the inner free end edge of the folded tubular body. The outer ends of the tubular body have end flaps adapted to be folded into the tubular body for closing the ends thereof.

United States Patent Woeste June 24, 1975 Primary Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or F irmWalter Becker 5 7 ABSTRACT A container, especially of cardboard, for receiving and storing rolled-up paper webs, drawings, and similar material which is made of a one-piece sheet that is folded into a tubular body of a polygonal cross section and has both of its ends provided with integral foldable closure flaps. The outer free longitudinal end edge of the thus formed body is provided with foldable tongues which extend through slots arranged along that folding line of the thus formed body which is adjacent to the outer free end edge of the thus folded tubular body. These tongues are located in correspondingly shaped recesses provided in the inner free end edge of the folded tubular body. The outer ends of the tubular body have end flaps adapted to be folded into the tubular body for closing the ends thereof.

10 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEIJJUN 24 ms :3, 8 5-31. 136

SHEET 3 R X I g fl llllll l The present invention relates to a container of cardboard or similar material in the form of a sleeve or tube for rolled-up webs of goods, drawings, written material, I

or the like; such container may be designed as a tubular body of polygonal, e.g. triangular or square cross section, and has closing covers at both end sides which are adapted to be folded off at an angle and the radial walls of which consist of coherent webs adapted to be folded together, while the free marginal portion of the outer web is held to the tubular body by tongues adapted to be inserted into the tubular body.

It is an object of the present invention to design a container of the above mentioned general type, especially of cardboard, in such a way that on one hand it will have great strength and that on the other hand the tongues for holding the container together can be inserted without difficulties while at the same time the tongues will not impede the contents in the interior of the container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container as set forth in the preceding paragraph, which may be of any desired length, will be self-supporting and can be folded by the user into a tubular container from a cardboard having marked folding lines, while the thus folded tubular body will be held together by itself without requiring an adhesive.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a tubular container according to the invention, said container having a triangular cross section.

FIG. 2 represents a flat cardboard with marked folding lines along which said cardboard can be folded into the container of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 to 7 illustrate various folding phases during the folding of said cardboard about its major folding lines which extend in the longitudinal direction of the finished container.

FIGS. 8 to 12 show folding phases of the end flaps of the cardboard to close the ends of the folded tubular container.

FIG. 13 is a section taken along the line XIIIXIII of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 illustrates a phase in the opening operation of an end flap.

FIG. 15 illustrates a cardboard blank principally similar to that of FIG. 2 with marked folding lines along which said cardboard can be folded into a tubular container of square cross section.

FIG. 16 represents a cross section through a tubular container folded from the blank of FIG. 15, said section being taken along the line XVI-XVI of FIG. 17.

FIG. 17 is a portion of a longitudinal section of the tubular container folded of the blank of FIG. 15, said longitudinal section being taken along the line XVII- -XVII of FIG. 16.

The container according to the present invention for receiving and storing rolled-up paper webs, drawings,

, free end edge located inside said container and extending substantially parallel to said folding lines and being defining substantially parallel strips therebetween. The

container according to the invention is furthermore I characterized in that said one-piece web has an inner provided with cut-out means, said container also having an outer free end edge provided with tongue means extending through slot means provided substantially in that folding line of the tubular container which is adjacent said outer free edge, said tongue means being lo-' cated within said cut-out means of said inner free end edge.

The provision of double walls for the container of the invention results in a considerable increase in the rigidity of the container. In order to be able, with the double walls of the container easily to insert the above mentioned tongues through the respective slots in the container and, furthermore, to permit the introduction of the written material or the like into the interior of the tubular container without being impeded by said tongues and without being crinkled thereby, the above mentioned tongues do not rest upon the double walls but are arranged in correspondingly large recesses in that inner container wall which comprises the inner free edge of the one-piece web folded into the tubular container.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and FIG. 1 thereof in particular, this figure shows a first embodiment of a doublewalled tubular container 1 according to the present invention. The specific container shown in FIG. 1 which has an outer triangular cross-sectional contour and is provided with outer end closure flaps 2,

2a and inner end closure flaps 3, 3a and 4, 4a. The tubular container 1 is made from a single piece punchedout blank 5, preferably of cardboard shown in FIG. 2 with that side of the blank facing the viewer which when the blank is folded to form the container 1, will face inwardly. The blank 5 has a first or inner end edge 6 with cut-outs 7 therein and also has a second or outer end edge 8 with tongues 9 thereon. The part between the end edges 6 and 8 is by means of folding lines 10, ll, l2, l3 and 14 divided into six foldable interconnected and substantially parallel strips 15, 16, 17, 18, I9 and 20, of which the strips 15, 16 and 17 will form the inner walls of the container 1 shown in FIG. 1, whereas the strips l8, l9, and 20 will form the outer walls of the container 1.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, the strip or inner wall 17 is provided with two slots 21 having a length which is slightly shorter than the greatest longitudinal extension of the tongues 9. In this way the tongues once pushed through the slots 21 will sit tight and not slip out accidentally by themselves. To facilitate the insertion of the tongues 9 into the slots 21 and then hold the folding line 9a of the tongues close to the folding line 12, the end sides 9b of the tongues are slightly rounded as shown in FIG. 2.

The folding of the blank 5 to form the tubular container 1 is effected in the manner shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 7. After the blank 5 has been placed on its outside, in other words so that the inside of blank 5 and similar material, comprises a one-piece web folded I faces the .viewer, as shown in FIG. 2, the strip 15 is folded about folding line 10 toward the inside of strip 16 and by an angle of approximately with regard to the plane upon which the remainder of blank 5 rests.

. Thereupon, strip 16 is folded about the folding line 11 in the direction of the arrow A as shown in FIG. 3 while strip 15 is folded further, likewise in the direction of arrow A, so that the inner free end edge 6 of strip'l5 substantially engages the folding line l2, as shown -'in FIG. 4. At the end of this folding step, the so far folded portion of blank forms a tubular body of triangular cross section with the side walls formed by the strips 15, 16 and 17, which represent the inner walls of the container being formed. The next step consists in folding the thus formed body 15, 16, 17 of FIG. 4 about the folding line 12 in the direction of the arrow B until the folding line lies over the folding line 13 as shown in FIG. 5. The so far folded structure of FIG. 5 is then folded in the direction of the arrow C so that strip 16 will rest over strip 19, and folding line 11 will lie over folding line 14. This position is shown in FIG. 6.

The folded body consisting so far of strips 15, l6, 17, 18 and 19 and illustrated in FIG. 6 is now folded about the folding line 14 in the direction of arrow D into the position of FIG. 7, and then strip 20 is folded in the direction of the arrow E while the tongues 9 are passed with slight pressure through the retaining slots 21. As indicated above, the greatest length of each tongue is slightly greater than the length of the retaining slot 9. Preferably, the length along which each tongue 9 is connected to strip 20 substantially equals the length of the corresponding slot. In the thus completely folded condition of the container body the tongues 9 respectively rest in the cut-outs 7 and thus do not protrude into the free interior space of the container.

As mentioned above, the blank 5 (FIG. 2) has each end of strip provided with an inner closure flap 3, 3a and similarly each end of strip 16 is provided with another inner closing strip 4, 4a. The closure flaps 3, 3a which are triangular with a rounded notched-out part 3', 4 are foldable about folding lines 22, 22a respectively, and the closure flaps 4, 4a are foldable about folding lines 23 and 230 respectively. Preferably, the folding lines 22, 22a are spaced from each other by a distance which is slightly less than the distance between the folding lines 23, 23a. In other words, preferably, there is a slight step between the folding lines 22 and 23 which equals about the thickness of the cardboard from which the closure flaps are made to facilitate the placing of the adjacent closure flaps upon each other during the closing of the closure flaps, as will be described further below.

There is a further step 24, 240 between the folding lines 23, 23a and the respective adjacent end edges 25 and 25a for a purpose explained further below. A smaller further step 26, 26a, preferably slightly rounded, is provided between the end edges 25, 25a, and the respective adjacent end edges 27 and 27a of strip 18.

As has furthermore been mentioned, strip has outer closure flaps 2, 2a, each of which has an inner triangular portion 2c, 2d respectively with side flaps 2e, 2e and 2f, 2 respectively. The flaps 2e, 2e are foldable about the folding lines 28, 29 respectively, and similarly, the flaps 2f, 2]" are foldable about the folding lines 30, 31, respectively.

Inasmuch as the construction and theclosing and opening of each of the ends of the containeraccording I same plane. To close the container end shown in FIG. 8, first flap 3 is folded inwardly in the direction of arrowv F (FIG. 9) until it is substantially perpendicular to the planes of strips 18 and 19. As next step (FIG. 10'), flap 4 is folded inwardly along arrow G until it is substantially perpendicular to the planes of strips 19 and 18 and lies directly over flap 3. It will be appreciated that this is easily possible since the folding line 22 for flap 3 lies more inwardly than the folding line 23, namely by the thickness of flap 4. As next step, flaps 2e and 2e are folded about the folding lines 28 and 29 respectively by approximately 90 toward the interior of the container, and then the triangular part 2c of flap 2 is folded about the folding line 2g in the direction of arrow H so that the flaps 2e and 2e slip inwardly of strips 18 and 19 and the outside of triangular part 20 is approximately flush with the adjacent end edges of strips 18 and 19. In this position, the free longitudinal edges substantially rest on flap 4 since, as will be evident from FIG. 2, flap 4 is located inwardly of edge 25a in the container by a distance substantially corresponding to the height of flaps 2e, 2e. The step 26 corresponds to the thickness of the triangular part 20 so that in closed condition of flap 2, the outside of part 20 will be approximately flush with the adjacent end edges of strips 18 and 19.

It may be mentioned that the folded flaps 2e and 22' have sufficient spring firmly to keep flap 2 in its closed position. However, the container according to the invention also permits a more positive closure. To this end, the end portions of strips 18 and 19 are each provided with pre-cut circular and U-shaped portions 34, 35, 34a, 35a and 36, 37, 36a, 37a, respectively. These pre-eut portions will in closed position of the end flaps 2 and 2a be in alignment with similarly pre-cut lines in the lateral flaps of 2e, 2e and 2f, 2f, respectively. More specifically, considering FIG. 11, when flap 2 is in its closed position, pre-cut portions 35 will be in alignment with pre-eut portion 38 and pre-cut portion 37 will be in alignment with pre-cut portion 39. Similarly, pre-cut circular portion 34 will in these conditions be in alignment with the pre-cut oval portion 40, and pre-cut circular portion 36 will be in alignment with pre-cut oval portion 41. Thus, in order to obtain a more positive closing for end flap 2, it is merely necessary to press ear 35 inwardly as shown on a larger scale in FIG. 13, thereby also pressing ear 38 inwardly and interlocking flap 2 to the container body. If an even more positive connection between flap 2 and the container body is desired, the circular pre-cuts 34 and 36 may be pushed out and also the oval parts 40 and 41, and a wire, brad or the like, may be passed through the thus created aligned openings. As indicated above, the same closure operations apply to both ends of the container.

The opening of the flaps is likewise very simple. Again referring only to flap 2, and assuming that, in case a wire, or the like, was used as positive closing means, it has been removed, the pre-cut ear 42 is pushed inwardly as shown in FIG. 14, so that a finger can be introduced through the thus created opening; it

' is also possible if the closing type of FIG. 13 had been used. The then exposed flap 4is grasped by a finger at "the notched-out portion 4' and folded upwardly and subsequently flap 3 is folded upwardly by a finger grasping the notched-out portion 3.

container of a cross-sectional triangular outer contour has been described which is preferred in view of its greater sturdiness than other polygonal containers, it is to be understood that the present invention and the merely the closure of the ends. Since both ends are alike, the closure of one only will be described.

First flap 130 having the more inwardly located folding line 131 is folded inwardly about the latter, then flap 132 which has its folding line 133 offset in outward direction with regard to folding line 131 is folded over flap 130, whereupon flap 126 is folded about folding line 127, and finally flap 128 is folded about folding line 129 while flap 126 is tucked in between strip 113 and the adjacent edges of flaps 130 and 132 so that vedge 134 substantially rests on edge 124 of strip 117.

Flap 126 has a pre-cut circular portion 219 which in principle thereof is not limited to the so far described container. Therefore, merely by way of example, there will now briefly be described a double-walled tubular container of cross-sectional square outer contour.

FIG. shows a blank generally designated 100, with folding lines 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and 107, defining strips 118, 117, 116, 115, 114, 113, 112, and 111. Strip 118 is provided with cut-outs 119 for receiving the tongues 120 forming an integral part of strip 111 and foldable about the folding lines 121 and 122. Strip 115 is provided with slots 123 which are likewise slightly shorter than the greatest length of the pertaining tongues for the same reasons as described in connection with the tongues 9 and slots 21. It may be mentioned, however, that instead, if desired, the length of the cut-outs 7 of the blank 5 in FIG. 2 and the length of the cutouts 119 in the blank 100 of FIG. 15 may be so dimensioned that the retaining tongues 9 and 120 respectively will rest therein with a tight fit, as shown, for instance, in FIG. 17 with regard to tongue 120 in cut-out 119.

The strip 117 is shorter than each of the remaining strips, which means that the end edges 124, 124a form a step with the respective adjacent end edges 125 and 125a. The height of this step corresponds substantially to the height of flaps 126, 126a which are foldable about a folding line 127, 127a, respectively, by which they are integrally connected to flap 128, 128a, respectively. The flaps 128, 128a form one single piece with the strip 111 and are separated therefrom by folding lines 129, 1290, respectively. The strip 114 has flaps 130, 130a, respectively foldable about folding lines 131, 131a. Similarly, the strip 112 has flaps 132, 132a respectively foldable about folding lines 133, 133a. The flaps 130, 130a and 132, 1320 are inner flaps and the flaps 128, 128a with the pertaining flaps 126, 126a are outer flaps.

The folding operation for blank 100 corresponds to that described in connection with the blank 5. In other words, first strip 118 is folded about folding line 101 away from the plane upon which blank 100 rests. Thereupon, strip 117 is folded in the same direction about folding line 102. As next step, strip 116 is folded about folding line 103 so that the inner edge 134 substantially engages the folding line 104. The part folded so far then comprises the four inner walls 118,117, 116 and 115 of the container which together form a body of square cross-sectional shape. The folding then continues successively in the same direction about the folding lines 104. 105, 106 and 107. In this position the tongues 120 are passed through the retaining slots 123 and rests in the respective cut-outs 119, whereby a selfsupporting tubular container is obtained with an outer and inner square cross section. There now remains tucked-in position of flap 126 is in alignment with a pre-cut ear 200 adapted to be pushed in so as to enter the punched-out circular portion and rest therein. Instead of said ear 200, a hole may be provided and a similar arrangement may be located in the opposite walls or strips 111 and so that a wire could be passed through for a positive closure.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the specific showing in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A tubular container for receiving and storing rolled-up paper webs, drawings, and similar material, which includes a one-piece web having parallel free end edges and being folded along substantially parallel folding lines into a rigid tubular container having an outer polygonal cross-sectional contour, said folding lines extending in the longitudinal direction of said tubular container and defining substantially parallel inner and outer wall strips therebetween while those ones of said folding lines which are closest to said free end edges define therewith end strips, one of said end strips having its free end edge provided with cut-out means and forming an inner wall of said container, and the other one of said end strips having its free end edge provided with tongue means, that one of said folding lines of said tubular container which is closest to said free end edge with said tongue means being provided with slot means aligned with said tongue means, said tongue means extending through said slot means and being located within said cut-out means.

2. A tubular container according to claim 1, in which said cut-out means define an area corresponding to the size of said tongue means.

3. A tubular container according to claim 1, in which said cut-out means are so dimensioned as to receive and hold said tongue means with tight fit.

4. A tubular container according to claim 1, in which each end of said tubular container is provided with closure flap means forming part of said one-piece web and including a lid section corresponding in shape to said outer polygonal cross-sectional contour and adapted to be folded so as to have its major outer surface flush with the adjacent end edges of the adjacent side walls of said container, said lid section having lateral wing means adapted to be tucked into the respective adjacent end of said tubular container.

5. A tubular container according to claim 4, in which said wing means and at least one of the wall portions engaged thereby in tucked in position of said wing means are provided with means so operable from the outside of said container when said lid section with its wing means is in its container closing position that they interlock.

6. A tubular container according to claim 4, in which said wing means include two wings and in which the wall end portions engaged by said wings as well as the latter are provided with means aligned with each other in closing position of said lid sections and adapted to receive a locking member therethrough.

7. A tubular container according to claim 4, in which said closure flap means also include two closure flaps arranged inside said container and in closing position of said lid sections held by the latter in a position in which they overlap each other.

8. A blank adapted to be folded into a rigid polygonal tubular container, which includes: a single-piece substantially flat cut of cardboard material having a length greater than its width, said blank having its shorter end edges substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to its longer end edges, one of said shorter end edges being provided with foldable tongue means and the other one of said shorter end edges being provided with cut-out means defining an area corresponding to that of said tongue means, said blank also being provided with an uneven number of substantially parallel folding lines extending substantially perpendicularly with regard to said longer edges and dividing said blank into an even number of substantially parallel inner and outer wall strips, said blank additionally being provided with slot means aligned in the longitudinal direction of saidblankwith and parallel to said tongue means and corresponding in length and width to the length and width of said tongue means, said slot means being partially defined by the intermediate one of said folding lines, said blank also including closure flap means having the width of one of said strips and respectively foldably connected to opposite ends of said strip along said longer end edges.

9. A blank according to claim 8, in which said closure flap means are connected to that end strip which has said tongue means connected thereto.

10. A blank according to claim 9, in which the longer end edges have portions thereof stepped relative to those portions of said longer end edges which have said closure flap means connected thereto so that said first mentioned end edge portions define strips of shorter length than said last mentioned longer end edge portions, and additional flaps foldably connected to said strips of shorter length at said first mentioned end edge portions. 

1. A tubular container for receiving and storing rolled-up paper webs, drawings, and similar material, which includes a one-piece web having parallel free end edges and being folded along substantially parallel folding lines into a rigid tubular container having an outer polygonal cross-sectional contour, said folding lines extending in the longitudinal direction of said tubular container and defining substantially parallel inner and outer wall strips therebetween while those ones of said folding lines which are closest to said free end edges define therewith end strips, one of said end strips having its free end edge provided with cut-out means and forming an inner wall of said container, and the other one of said end strips having its free end edge provided with tongue means, that one of said folding lines of said tubular container which is closest to said free end edge with said tongue means being provided with slot means aligned with said tongue means, said tongue means extending through said slot means and being located within said cut-out means.
 2. A tubular container according to claim 1, in which said cut-out means define an area corresponding to the size of said tongue means.
 3. A tubular container according to claim 1, in which said cut-out means are so dimensioned as to receive and hold said tongue means with tight fit.
 4. A tubular container according to claim 1, in which each end of said tubular container is provided with closure flap means forming part of said one-piece web and including a lid section corresponding in shape to said outer polygonal cross-sectional contour and adapted to be folded so as to have its major outer surface flush with the adjacent end edges of the adjacent side walls of said container, said lid section having lateral wing means adapted to be tucked into the respective adjacent end of said tubular container.
 5. A tubular container according to claim 4, in which said wing means and at least one of the wall portions engaged thereby in tucked in position of said wing means are provided with means so operable from the outside of said container when said lid section with its wing means is in its container closing position that they interlock.
 6. A tubular container according to claim 4, in which said wing means include two wings and in which the wall end portions engaged by said wings as well as the latter are provided with means aligned with each other in closing position of said lid sections and adapted to receive a locking member therethrough.
 7. A tubular container according to claim 4, in which said closure flap means also include two closure flaps arranged inside said container and in closing position of said lid sections held by the latter in a position in which they overlap each other.
 8. A blank adapted to be folded into a rigid polygonal tubular container, which includes: a single-piece substantially flat cut of cardboard material having a length greater than its width, said blank having its shorter end edges substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to its longer end edges, one of said shorter end edges being provided with foldable tongue means and the other one of said shorter end edges being provided with cut-out means defining an area corresponding to that of said tongue means, said blank also being provided with an uneven number of substantially parallel folding lines extending substantially perpendicularly with regard to said longer edges and dividing said blank into an even number of substantially parallel inner and outer wall strips, said blank aDditionally being provided with slot means aligned in the longitudinal direction of said blank with and parallel to said tongue means and corresponding in length and width to the length and width of said tongue means, said slot means being partially defined by the intermediate one of said folding lines, said blank also including closure flap means having the width of one of said strips and respectively foldably connected to opposite ends of said strip along said longer end edges.
 9. A blank according to claim 8, in which said closure flap means are connected to that end strip which has said tongue means connected thereto.
 10. A blank according to claim 9, in which the longer end edges have portions thereof stepped relative to those portions of said longer end edges which have said closure flap means connected thereto so that said first mentioned end edge portions define strips of shorter length than said last mentioned longer end edge portions, and additional flaps foldably connected to said strips of shorter length at said first mentioned end edge portions. 